Irish Anti - War activist begins hunger strike in Limerick Prison.

by time for action Wed Feb 18, 2004 01:01

press releases and newswire gossip is fine but ultimately useless.

What should be done, here in side the Dublin Pale to bring attention to Eion's jailing and hunger strike?

Does the media know of this issue?

Do the good TD's know anything about this?

Anyone up for a solidarity hunger strike in front of Dail?

Eion's plight is directly connected with the fact that dozens have been banned from Co Clare. His civil liberties, or lack thereor, are our civil liberties.

we need to do something.

by David C. Wed Feb 18, 2004 01:21

"Depleted-uranium radioactive tipped patriot cruise missiles?". This is nonsense.

Depleted-uranium is used in bullets and cannon rounds - not as 'tips' for missiles. It is used because it is extremely, extremely heavy (like lead), not because of its residual radiation. Although DU weapons are not dangerously radioactive before they are fired, they produce fine, slightly radioactive dust on impact, which is probably very toxic and is hard to clean up.

A patriot missle is an anti-missle missle - in other words it shoots down attacking missles. It is a defensive weapon and is of no danger to anyone who isn't flying at mach 3. Because it is defensive it is not banned by any international convention and because it is intended for battlefield use rather then strategic use it is not even banned under the now defunct Anti-Ballistic-Missle (ABM) treaty. It also has nothing to do with cruise missles, which are not ballistic and which are offensive in nature.

Spouting nonsense diminishes the impact of your piece and reduces your credibility. Eoin Rice and his cause (i.e. the illegal use of Shannon as a de facto American base) deserve serious support.

I hope this helps.

by Slarti Wed Feb 18, 2004 01:48

DU is used in (some) Cruise missiles - although as a counterweight, not as a tip.

While it's true that the Patriot system is an "anti-missile" missile system it's not true to say that it's entirely defensive. It is intended to help make possible the style of warfare in which you simply rain down explosives, DU, napalm and whatever else you can think of on your enemies (and their civilians) with impunity (the so-called Powell Doctrine). Also, the latest generations of the patriot system are effectively part of the son-of-Star-Wars NMD programme, the only rational for which seems to be to create a LESS stable world.

The original post on ER's jailing said he was going to the High Court to get Judge Mangen squashed - any news on this?

by David C. Wed Feb 18, 2004 02:01

I didn't know that about DU used as a counterweight on Cruise missiles. Makes sense, though. The stuff is weirdly heavy.

No news on Eoin. I wonder if this case is perhaps not the best mechanism by which to continue to challenge the government on the use of Shannon by the US. Judge Mangen's 'barred from clare' mentality seems merely comic.

On a broader note: Why is it so difficult to get the public to pay attention to this? Irish people seem to disapprove of the war and of what the American's have been doing. There have been enough events, etc to give the press something to report. Why no outrage?

by Desmond Fennell Wed Feb 18, 2004 02:11

I don't agree with him but I still admire his courage. How many more young men have to die before the squares in the Dáil see where it's at ?

Eoin was a fine young man - although a little unkempt.
May he rest in peace.

by David C. Wed Feb 18, 2004 03:04

He's not dead yet, Desmond! In fact he probably isn't even terribly hungry at this point.

(That reminds me - time for a late-nite snack...)

by tired of begrudgers Wed Feb 18, 2004 03:07

In Germany, they first came for the communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Catholic. Then they came for me -- and by that time there was nobody left to speak up.
-Martin Niemoller

by Conor - Shannon Peace House Wed Feb 18, 2004 15:25

Owen appeared in the Corafin District Court today. He was remanded over to Ennis District court on the 27th of Feburary.

Owen again demanded a reason from the jugde for making extra bail contitions but Jugde Mangan ignored him and the Garda Inspector advised Owen to stay quite.

by Fairview Against the War Wed Feb 18, 2004 22:55 fairviewantiwar at eircom dot net

Fairview Against the War is calling a picket of Dail Eireann from 11am to 2pm on Thursday February 19th in support of Eoin Rice. Eoin is currently on hunger strike in Limerick prison to protest against bail conditions imposed by Judge Mangan. Please support and publicise widely.

by pc Thu Feb 19, 2004 23:12

she saw me in the background of a photo outside dublin castle i pointed out in the picture relating his bruising encounters with the police, her reaction to that was if this really did happen it would be on the front page, why wasn' it.
"
there is no problem with humans compared to say turkey , sure don't have concerns with turkeys human rights record, things ain't so bad in ireland so thre is _no_ problem ???
"

by :-) Fri Feb 20, 2004 00:04

oh well all poets (myself included) do.
though I don't like mine @ all.
:-)

by Justin Morahan - Peace People Fri Feb 20, 2004 02:00

At Thursday's Dáil protest it was great to see friends from all shades of the anti-war movement coming together in solidarity with Eoin. It was a lively group and brought back memories of last year's protests because of the way it alerted the public and got support from them and some loyal members of the Oireachtas.
Again two school outings gave us the thumbs up - always a good sign.
About 25 took part.
The news at 9.20 a.m. from the Governor of Limerick prison was that Eoin was still on hunger strike and had been, since he came into the prison. Further protests are planned for Friday and after.

by Fintan Lane - Cork Anti-War Campaign Fri Feb 20, 2004 05:05

Well done to everybody who attended the picket!

I hope that everybody also remembers to write to Owen to help break down that sense of isolation one feels in prison. Send a card if you don't have time to put a letter together, but do send him something. And don't forget to put 'prisoner of conscience' or 'political prisoner' after his name.

Owen Rice,
Prisoner of conscience,
D-Wing, Limerick Prison,
Mulgrave Street,
Limerick.

Start scribbling.

by paul otoole Sat Feb 21, 2004 14:41

DU can be used in ALL munitions incl missiles. It is used for penetration. Contrary to your belief and sarcasm DU is the most poisonus metal on the planet. On impact it fuses into millions of radioactive particles -any minute particle can be injested by breathing it in the lungs ,by swallowing unseen airborne particles or through a cut in the skin. One tiny particle can cause a cell mutation -then you have CANCER .the village of Safwan has 47% cancer with none before the first invasion of Iraq. More than 180,000 US soldiers suffer GW Syndrome since 1991 12,000 US. soldiers who got back alive have died. It also poisons the earth and food chain for 4.5 BILLION years...is this what you mean by 'slightly radioactive dust' in your posting.
....a crime against God and a crime against humanity......Prof. David Rokke Nuke physist .Who has 5thousand times the normal level ammount of R.A in his body....